System for charging storage-cells.



No. 838,583. PATBNTED DEC. 13, 1906.

I. S.'RAYMER. SYSTEM FOR CHARGING STORAGE CELLS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

was

,Wiinwses:

PATENTED DEC. 18, 1905.

ITO-838,583

I. s. RAYMEVR. SYSTEM FOR CHARGING STORAGE CELLS.

APYLIOATION FILED AUG.23, 1905.

w w n N0. 838,583. PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906- I. S. RAYMER. SYSTEM FOR CHARGING STORAGE CELLS. APPLICATION runnwe. 2a, 1905.

4 gnaw-SHEET a.

L W R P WE T .v E NAN N\\ N N .i i 29 M SD m :U U W Q Q v MN \FN. -FM :R. 5N & RN g R7 v a a N Pi: 4 Jay Q 4 E Q Q u irr fl 1 QMKL VQNIQ MN. N. W d

PATENTED DEC; 18, 1906.

SHEETS-$113111 4.

Invert/Z01": I y a' Z ,By

I. S. RAYMBR.

APPLIUATIQN FILED AUG. 23, 1906.

' $YSTEM FOR CHARGING STORAGE CELLS.

WLZrLSSGS War-vol;

THE NORRIS pxnzns co., wxsumbrau, o, c.

IRA S. RAYMER, OF BEAVER, PENNSYLVANIA.

SYSTEM FOR CHARGING STORAGE-CELLS- Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

Application filed August 23, 1905. Serial No. 275,338.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA S. RAYMER, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Beaver, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems for Charging Storage-Cells, of which the following is a specifiation.

My invention relates to systems in which a plurality of storage or secondary cells are charged from a common source of currentsupply.

My invention is applicable particularly to such systems as are used in connection with railway signaling systems.

I will describe a system embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In carrying out my invention I employ a circuit changing or shifting apparatus, which I will herein call a commutator, and in describing the construction and operation of the said commutatorI will choose for illustration a case where twelve storage-cells of like size and type are divided into three groups of four cells each and will show how the said commutator is employed to connect and disconnect, successively, each of the three groups of cells to and from their chargingand discharging circuits. In the case chosen for illustration one set of four cells is connected, by means of the commutator embodying my invention, with the batterycharging circuit-that is, with the source of current-supply that is used for charging the cells while a second set of four cells is connected in series with a discharging-circuit, and the third set is split up into its four constituent cells, and the said four cells are respectively connected to four other discharging-circuits. By shifting the commutator the first of the three above-mentioned sets of cells may be shifted from the chargingcircuit and connected to the circuit to which the second set of cells was previously connected, the said second set is split upat the same time into its four constituent cells and connected to the four discharge-circuits, and the said third set of four cells is connected up at the same time in series to the charging-circuit. In like manner a further shifting of the commutator will once more transpose the three sets of cells, connecting the second set with the charging-line, the third set in series with the discharging-circuit, and splitting up the first set into four units of one cell each and connecting the said four cells, respectively, to the four above-mentioned circuits.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a commutator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view taken from the left-hand end of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the line 0c 00 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is a view of the commutator, showing how it would appear if its surface were developed into a plane. Fig. 5 illustrates a portion of a four-track railway comprising a signal system to which a system for charging storagecells embodying my invention may be applied. Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the external connections of the commutator.

Like numerals and letters of reference designate like parts in all the drawings.

R designates a roller or cylinder, of hard rubber or other suitable insulating material, adapted to be rotated on its longitudinal axis through any angle that may be desired, and 1 2 3, &c., designate contact-strips, of brass or other suitable conducting material, which are firmly attached, in any suitable manner, to-the surface of the roller R and are relatively arranged thereon in the manner shown in the developed view Fig. 4. As stated above, the strips 1 2 3, &c., may be attached to the surface of the roller R in any desired suitable manner; but preferably I attach them by bending down the ends of the strips and inserting the ends thus bent down into longitudinal slots cut in the surface of the roller and provided for the purpose of gripping the said ends tightly, and thereby holding the strips in their proper relative positions.

A A, B B, and C C designate three rows of contact springs or brushes, a a (1 &c., b 6 b &c., and c c c", &c., which are suitably supported adjacent the roller R and are set at an angle of one hundred and twenty degrees from each other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The said contactsprings are so constructed that they will always make a good electrical contact with the various strips 1 2 3, &c., with which they may respectively be engaged. There are eight contact-springs in row A, a a a &c., and these are connected in pairs to the four cells of secondarybattery d d (1 (1*, one spring being connected to each terminal of each cell, as shown. In like manner the eight contact-springs of row C, c c 0 &c., are connected to the four cells 6 e c c. Row B comprises twenty contact-springs b b I), 850., and of this number two springs b I) are connected, respectively, to the treminals of the cellf; b and b arein like manner connected to the terminals of cell f 1) and b to cellf, and b and b to cellf. Of the remaining twelve contacts eight contacts namely, b b b 1), I), b b and b arc connected in pairs, respectively, to four discharging-circuits, which I have designated Z Z Z L". Springs 6 and N" are connected, respectively, with the incoming and outgoing terminals 1) p of conductor P, which is one of the two conductors conveying current for charging the cells from the source of currentsupply N. (See Fig. 5.) The conductor P is connected to one terminal 01'' the source 01'' charging-current N, and the said conductor is looped in series through as many commutators S S 8*, &c., as may be desired. ln. Fig. 5 I have shown three commutator-s thus connected to the charging-line P. The re- -maining conductor R is used as the return for the charging-current and is connected to the other terminal of the source N. Referring again to Fig. 4, the two contact-springs b and I) are connected to conductors T and T which convey current from one or other of the three sets of cells (1, &c., c, &c.,f, &c., to a discharging-circuit, which I have designated X. 1 will now trace the several circuits of the three batteries of cells-namely, (Z (Z &c., c 6 &c., andff &c.through the contact springs and strips of the commutator and show how by means of the said commutator I am enabled to put each of the said batteries successively and in regular rotation into connection with the battery-charging circuit and the various discharging-oircuits. As'hereinbeiore stated, the lines of contact of the three sets of contact-springs (1/ (L2, &c., I) Z)", &c., and 0 0 &c., with the contact-strips on the roller R, are arranged at an angle of one hundred and twenty degrees from each other. Referring to the developed view of the roller R, in Fig. 4 the lines A A, B B, and C C, respectively, designate the said lines of contact of the said three rows of springs. It will be seen that one terminal of the battery charging line-wire or conductor P is connected at p to contact-spring I) of row B B and in like manner the other terminal of the said conductor P is connected at p to the contactspring b Current will therefore now [low from the source N through the conductor P to contact-spring b of the commutator, thence to contact-strip 1. with which 7) makes con.- tact, thence to strip 2 along the connection 50, thence to strip 3, which is in contact with spring a. From a the current passes through cell (Z, thence to spring (0, strip 4 (on commutator,) strip 5, spring a cell (I spring a, strip 6, strip 7, spring a, cell d, spring a, strip 8, strip 9, spring a cell (1, spring (1/ strip 10, strip 11 connection 51 strip 12, contact-spring b terminal 1) to charging-line wire P. The current then continues its course through the conductor P and linally returns by way of the return-conductor P to the other terminal of the source N, whence it started. The current [lowing in conductor P may of course be made to pass through. a plurality of similar commutators and batteries as, for instance, S S'-, Fig. 5-il so de sired; but I have only described its course through one commutator S and the associated cells thereof, as its operation in this case is similar to and typical of its operation in the other cases. It will be seen from the above description that the charging-current passes through the four -ells (Z (Z d d in series, this being the proper and usual manner ol connec ting up secondary batteries in a chargingcircuit.

I will now trace the circuit of the second set oi cellsthat to say, the tour cells which are discharging through circuit X. In the position of commutator illustrated in Fig. t this set .is composed of the four cells 1 f fshow, are connected up in series through the comn'lutatm. The wires T and T which are connected, respectively, to the contactsprings I) and I), Fig. 4, extend out to the translating device or devices which are comprised in the said circuit X. Starting from contact-spring 7), the circuit may be traced through contact-strip 13, with which spring 72 is in contact, thence to strip 14-, spring i), cell f, spring I)", strip 15, strip 1.6, spring 6 cell ffl spring b, strip 17, strip 18, spring 1), cell 1, spring I), strip 1.), strip 2(), spring 1), cell f, spring I), strip 21, strip 22, spring h, wire T to the translatingdevices g {1' g g" and back by wire T to contact if, thus completing the circuit. As in the case of the cells d it" (1 d, which are being charged, the four cellsf f f, and f are placed. in series by means of my conimutator as the last-described. circuit clearly shows, There still remains a third set ol cells to be accounted fornam(-tly, 1/, c", c, and. c-and 1 will now proceed to show how these T0111 cells are electrically separated from each other and individually connmzted up to the tour circuits .2 2" z 2', for which they constitute, respectively, the sources of current-supply while the connnutatrn is in its In'escnt position. As I have already stated, the springs c c" c, &c., are making contact with the comnmtator-strips along the line C C, Fig. 4. Consequently c is in contact with the commutator-strip 23. (urrent therefore flows from one terminal ol' the. cell 0 through spring 0, strip 23, strip 2 1, spring 1) to one terminal of the translating device 7 then from the other terminal of the said translating device 3 to spring If, strip 25 on the commutator, strip 26, spring 0", and back to the other terminal of the cell 1/, from which it started. It will be seen, there- These lour cells, as :l will now translating device 1 fore, that one terminal of the cell c is com nected to one terminal of the translating device y and the other terminal of e to the other terminal of y. In like manner the batterycell 6 can be shown to be connected to the Thus one terminal of the said cell is connected to one terminal of 11 through contact-spring c strip 27, strip 28, and spring I), and the other terminal of the same cell is connected to the other terminal of g through spring 0 strip 30, strip 29, and spring I). The circuit of the next cell 6 may be traced, starting from one terminal through spring 0 strip 31, strip 32, spring I) to one terminal of 1 and from the other terminal of if through 6 strip 33, strip 34, and spring 0 to the other pole of the cell c". The cell c in like manner has one terminal connected to one terminal of 1 through spring 0 strip 35, strip 36, and spring I), while the other terminal of the same cell e is connected to the other terminal of if through spring 0 strip 38, strip 37, and spring I).

In practice there may be a number of other batteries connected up in series on the charging-circuit besides the one we have been considering. Consequently it is important that the charging-circuit should be kept closed at all timesthat is, so long as the source N is delivering current for charging purposes. Therefore I provide the strips 41 42 43 at one Y ductor 54 is insulated from all strips under which it may pass. I provide a resistance r in the circuit of the said conductor 54, which resistance may be approximately equivalent to the resistance of four cells of the secondary battery which are used in connection with my commutator, or of any other suitable desired value. Furthermore, I make the spaces between any two adjacent strips on the end rows of the commutatoras, for example, between 1 and 41 or 39 and 43 or 44 and 11-so smallthat each of the springs b and 6 will always be in contact with at least one of the commutator-strips while the said commutator is being rotated. Consequently, although during the rotation of the commutator and while the spring I) is pass ing from strip 1 to 43 or from 39 to 42 or from 2 to 1 and the spring 19 is making a like relative movement at the other end of the commutator, the charging-line P will be cut out of circuit with all the batteries (1, &c., e, &c., andf, &c. The said charging-line will nevertheless not he on open circuit, as it will be in contact with one or other of the strips 41, 42, or 43 at one end of the commutator and one or other of the strips 44 45 46 at the other end of the commutator and will consequently be closed through the shunt-circuit 54 and resistance. The charging-circuit therefore will never be open, although it need not necessarily have any battery in circuit. I

The various circuits through which the batteries discharge will also be continuously in circuit with one or other of the cells or batteries of cells, owing to the fact that the contact-strips on the commutator are so 1 arranged that during the rotation of said commutator a contactspringfor example, a, c, or b -of any given cell d e f, 620., will make contact with its respective contactstripsay 14 or 23before the preceding spring has ceased to make contact with the same strip.

As soon as the cells d (Z (Z d, which are now in circuit with the charging-line, have received a sufficient charge from the source N and it is desired to put another set of cells in circuit with the said charging-line it will be only necessary to rotate the commutator through one-third of a revolution that is, through one hundred and twenty degrees. I will assume that the commutator has been so rotated in the direction shown by the arrow W, Fig. 4. Then by such rotation the row A A of contact springs a M, &c., is brought into the position now occupied by row B B of contact-springs, while row C C is at the same time moved to occupy the position now occupied by row A A and row B B will occupy the position now held by row C 0. Consequently the functions of the various battery-cells will all be changed, and the cells d d d d will now be discharging through circuit X, cells 6 e e a will be connected up to the chargingline, and f f f f will be electrically separate from each other and will be connected up individually and respectively to the four circuits Z Z Z Z". Another rotation of the commutator in the same direction through another one hundred and twenty degrees will result in once more interchanging the functions of the three sets of cells, and f, f f and 7 will now be connected with the charging-line, 6, e c and 6 will be connected up to the circuit X, and d, d (Z and (i will be connected to-the circuits Z Z Z Z.

From the foregoing explanation it will be seen that in the course of one complete revo- Fig. 6 illustrates the manner in which I arrange the circuit connections to the contactsprings b b b b I) b b 6 when my commutator is used in conjunction with two circuits Z Z instead of four circuits Z Z Z Z, as in Fig. 4. It will be seen that exactly the same number of contact-springs are used in the B row of springs in the former as in the latter case, but that springs I) b are connect ed in multiple circuit with b b to one circuit Z and that I) b are in like manner connected in multiple with b I)" to the other circuit Z. By using this mode of connection I am enabled to adhere to the above-described system of having four cells of battery in each group; but instead of using one cell only for each circuit Z Z Iuse two cells and connect them in multiple, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a portion of a signal system. to which my system for charging storage batteries is applicable. 101, 102, 103, and 104k designate portions of the tracks of a four-track railway. I have assumed each track to be divided. into blocksectio11s A A A &c., B B B &c., C C C &c., D D D &c., by means of insulation a a, &c., and the entry of trains to each of the said block-seetions as being controlled. by a signal E E &c., F F E, &c., G G G &c., II II II, &c For example, the signal E controls the entrance of trains to block-section A, E in like manner controls the entrance of trains to block-section A, E to A, F to B G to C, II" to D and so on. For the sake of simplifying this description I have shown all block-sections as being equal in length and the ends of all block-sections on track 101 as being adjacent the ends of like block-sections on tracks 102, 103, and 104. Furthermore, I. have shown each block-section as com prising only one track-circuit, which extends from one end of the block-section to the other. Each track-circuit consists of a source of current-supply q (1 q, &c., 1 1" 1 &c., ss s, &c., andt t t, &c., a relay device j j f, &e., 7c k 7c, &c., Z Z V, &c., m m m, &c., adapted to respond in the movement of its armature to the presence or absence in its coils of current derived from the said source and of the track-rails which are adapted to conduct current from any one of the said sources to the relay device which forms part of the san'ie trackcircuit as the said source. This general arrangement of block-sections is one that is frequently carried out in practice, and it has the advantage of enabling the signals to be arranged in groups of four, as shown in Fig. 5, one signal of each of the said. groups of four controlling, respectively, the movements of trains on one trackas signal t, for example, which controls the movements of trains on track 101 between E and E, or H which controls the movements of trains on track 10& between H and II. For convenience I have shown each group of four signals as being mounted on a signal-bridge K K K this being a usual manner of installing block-signals on a four-track road. It will be seen that adjacent each signal-bridge there are located. four sources of currentsupply for track-circuitsas, for instance, adjacent bridge K the sources 7" s tand likewise a source of current-supply L, which is used for the operation of the four signals on bridge K. All the above-described. sources of current-supply, both for trackcircuits and for signals, are secondary cells, and these secondary cells are charged from a common source N, which may be located at any convenient place adjacent the railway, P and P being main conductors through which the charging-current for the various secondary cells is conveyed. from the said common source N to the various commutators S S S &e., which are respectively located adjacent the signal-bridges K Ii" K, &c. The said commutators S S S may be of like construction to the commutator hereinbefore described in detail. Referring to the said description and to Fig. 4 particularly, the four relay devices at any specific locationas, for example, relays j, [C2, l, and m at sigi'ial-bridge K correspond to the translating devices which derive current through circuits Z, Z Z, and Z", and in like manner the operating-motors of signals E, F G and H derive their current through a signalcontrolling circuit which corresponds to circuit X. Each of the three batteries or sets of cells in the foregoing description is similar to the other two batteries, both as regards the number of cells it comprises and also as regards the size and type of cells employed.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In combination with a plurality of block-sections, each comprising a track-circuit and a signaling-circuit, of three sets or batteries of four secondary cells, a source of electric current for charging the said cells, and a circuit-controlling apparatus adapted to be moved successively into three different positions and by such. successive n'iovement to shift or change the connections between the said sets of cells and the said circuits so that each set of cells in turn will be connected with the source of charging-current, and that while one set of cells is so connected a second set of cells will be connected in series to a signaling-circuit and a third set of cells will be divided into units of one cell each and each of said cells will be individually connected to discharge through a track-circuit.

2. In a railway signaling system having one or more tracks divided into block-sections, each block-section comprising a signalcircuit and a track-circuit, the combination with a plurality of storage or secondary cells,

a source of current-supply for charging said cells, and a circuit-controlling apparatus adapted to electrically arrange the said cells in groups and to interchange the functions of said groups so that each group of cells will successively be connected to the source of charging-current supply, the signal-circuits and the track-circuits.

3. In combination with a block-section of a railway signaling system, a track-circuit, and a signal-circuit for said block-section, three sets of storage-cells, a charging-circuit and means for successively connecting the three sets of cells with the track and signal circuits and with the charging-circuit.

4. In a railway signaling system having one or more tracks divided into block-sections, each block-section comprising a sig naling-circuit and a track-circuit, the combination with a plurality of storage or sec- 20 ondary cells, a source of current-supply for charging the said cells, and a circuit-contr0lling apparatus adapted to electrically arrange the said cells in three sets and to successively interchange the functions of said sets so that one set is placed in series in the charging-circuit while another set is placed in series in the signaling-circuit and the third set is divided into two or more sets and each set is used as a source of current-supply for 0 one of said track-circuits- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribed witnesses.

IRA S. RAYMER. Witnesses J. H. GWYNNE, GEORGE R. BOVARD. 

